Chapman, De Jong take top Texas honors

A's No. 4 prospect Matt Chapman and Dodgers No. 17 prospect Chase De Jong were named the Texas League Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, on Wednesday as part of the Double-A circuit's rollout of its end-of-season All-Stars for the 2016 campaign. 

Currently with Triple-A Nashville, Chapman still sits atop the Texas League leaderboard with 29 homers, 59 extra-base hits, 78 runs scored and a .521 slugging percentage over 117 games for Double-A Midland. He also ranks second in the circuit with 83 RBIs, 228 total bases and an .856 OPS. The 23-year-old is considered a gifted defender at third base with MLB.com giving him a 60 grade for his fielding and a 70 for his arm on the 20-80 scale.

De Jong earned his honor after leading the circuit with a 1.02 WHIP and 14 wins. His 2.86 ERA ranks second in the Texas League, while his 125 strikeouts over 141 2/3 innings sit third. 

Two players currently in the Majors were honored with spots on the Texas League end-of-season All-Star list Wednesday. Astros infielder Alex Bregman got the shortstop nod after producing a .297/.415/.559 line with 14 homers, two triples, 16 doubles, 46 RBIs and a 26/42 K/BB ratio over 62 games for Corpus Christi. The LSU product was moved up to Triple-A Fresno on June 30 and was with Houston a month later. Cardinals right-hander Luke Weaver, who is scheduled to make his fourth start for St. Louis on Wednesday, joined De Jong as one of the eight pitchers on the All-Star list after going 6-3 with a 1.40 ERA, 0.95 ERA, 88 strikeouts and 10 walks in 77 innings with Springfield.

Other MLB.com top-100 prospects honored by the Texas League were Tulsa second baseman Willie Calhoun, Midland utilityman Franklin Barreto, Tulsa outfielder Alex Verdugo and Corpus Christi right-hander Francis Martes.

Springfield slugger Luke Voit -- the league leader in average (.301), hits (138) and OPS (.862) -- took the designated hitter spot. 

Here is the complete list of Texas League end-of-season All-Stars: